The child’s grandparents, an aunt and an uncle called Durig “a monster with no heart” in a written statement read during Durig’s sentencing in county Common Pleas Court. Durig looked down at the defense table while the statement was read by a victim’s advocate.
Prosecuting Attorney Gary Nasal said the abuse Caleb Durig endured was the worst case of child abuse he’d seen in more than 15 years in office.
Nasal described the crime as “horrific,” adding later, “We hope he never sees the light of day as a free man.”
Tony Kendell, assistant county prosecutor, outlined for Judge Christopher Gee the extensive injuries police and coroner’s investigators documented on Caleb Durig. Among them were two separate skull fractures; human bite marks on his face and leg; abrasions, contusions to the face, scalp and neck; and a compressed chest.
Caleb’s mother, Tara Durig, pleaded no contest in December to felony permitting child abuse in the death. She will be sentenced next week.
Jason Durig told the judge he wished he could go back and change things. “I really screwed it all up,” Durig said, adding he was “very sorry for all that I have done.”
Defense lawyer Robert Huffman Jr. said his observation, after talking with Durig for several month, was the actions were “not a crime of hate or malice. It was a crime of ignorance and inexperience.” Durig loved his son and accepts responsibility for his actions, Huffman said.
Kendell disagreed with claims of ignorance and inexperience pointing out Durig earlier served time in prison for scalding another child while giving him a bath in 2007.
“When he does come up for parole in 15 years, someone from this office will be there and say it isn’t so,” Kendell said.
Contact this reporter at
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